ELIXIR

Janos Varga is the founding member and guitar player of the legendary Hungarian progrock formation East that made several albums in the first part of the Eighties, their LP Huseg (1982) is considered is their best effort. Then Janos was very active in several musical projects and in the late Nineties he founded the Janos Varga Project. He released the studio-albums The Wings Of Revalations I (2000) and II (2002) and in 2003 the Janos Vargo Project DVD entitled Live The Wings Of Revalation. On this outstanding (and very underrated) efforts I enjoyed the variety: in his often powerful guitar work (from propulsive riffs and fiery runs to classical guitar and sensitive with subtle use of the volume pedal) and in the compositions (from rock and blues to New Age and symphonic rock).

In 2009 the Janos Varga Project released a new studio-album entitled Elixer on which Janos (guitars, synthesizers and bass) plays together with original East-drummer Istvan Kiraly, keyboard player Zsolt Nagy and Gyorgy Ferenczi on violin. Again we can enjoy a lot of variety and powerful guitar work. But on this album the violin adds a new element to the sound of Janos Varga Project: strong solos and captivating interplay with the electric guitar in the Eastern sounding India, the alternating Eldorado and Pentatonic Attack (evoking JL Ponty).

But of course the focus is on Janos his excellent guitar work.

A moving solo in Roses On The River (also including a compelling Hammond organ solo after a spacey intro).

Fiery, biting and heavy runs in East-West Express (swinging bass and propulsive percussion).

Wah-wah guitar and splendid guitar work in the (in my opinion) Eric Clapton tribute Respect For The Master.

Floydian guitar play in the varied Caravanserai (electronic sounds, didgeridoo, flute and acoustic guitar).

Howling electric guitar runs, blended with acoustic guitar in the swinging The Right Way.

A heavy and bombastic guitar sound in the alternating My Dream Came True.

And sensitive electric guitar runs (with hints of Peter Green and Carlos Santana) in the wonderful final track Confession.

What a strong third effort, one of the most overlooked gems in this decade, highly recommended eclectic guitar prog extravaganza!

Share this JANOS VÁRGA PROJECT review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to TenYearsAfter
• Report this review (#2037740)
• Buy JANOS VÁRGA PROJECT music online with PA partners
• Show all JANOS VÁRGA PROJECT MP3/Stream
• Go to JANOS VÁRGA PROJECT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Elixir page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for JANOS VÁRGA PROJECT related discussions